Urban Mining

FRAUNHOFER PROJECT GROUP MATERIALS RECYCLING AND RESOURCE STRATEGIES IWKS

URBAN MINING

CONTACT

Dr. rer. nat. Gert Homm Head of Department Urban Mining Phone +49 6023 32039-867 [email protected]

Fraunhofer Project Group for Materials Recycling and Resource Strategies IWKS Brentanostrasse 2a 63755 Alzenau, Germany www.iwks.fraunhofer.de URBAN MINING

Urban Mining – Goals and challenges Mineral treatment and production residues Landfills and resource stocks Collection and analysis of data for buildings and infrastructure Many inorganic and composite materials end up on landfills but The focused material systems have much in common. They are Landfills are not a burden but a stock of resources worth to do not belong there! Global industries like the steel, iron and usually produced in large quantities and contain low amounts be recovered. This is as well reflected by the decision of the The biggest fraction of the entire waste accumulation in aluminium industry produce millions of tons of different dusts, of resources and/or pollutants. These substances - mostly European Parliament to include “Enhanced Landfill Mining” in Germany is construction waste. The composition of this waste sludges, ashes and slags on a day-to-day basis. metals - are embedded in an oxide or (alumino) silicate matrix the EU Landfill Directive. The IWKS offers in close collaboration type has substantially changed in the last centuries. For in- with a good chemical stability. with numerous partners the following services: stance, ancient houses were made of mineral materials, wood The department “Urban Mining” of the Fraunhofer Project The Project Group IWKS faces the challenge to develop • Development of new and optimisation of existing models and iron, while in modern buildings more than 100 materials Group IWKS is specialised in the development of technologies methods allowing the economically feasible extraction of for the estimation of potential resources in landfills are installed. Additionally, the fractions of used materials have for the effective and sustainable use of resources from waste recyclables. These methods range from physical, chemical to • Evaluation of current approaches to extract secondary drastically changed. The metal content, which was below one materials. biological approaches, depending on the kind, concentration resources from landfills percent for many centuries, has increased to over ten percent and bond of the substance (metal) to be extracted. • Identifying potential markets for upcycling products in modern buildings. An accurate knowledge of this huge In close cooperation with business partners new recycling • Analysis of current political conditions, obstacles and material stock is crucial for a constructive and efficient reuse concepts and future-oriented processes for innovative crushing Processing methods drivers for enhanced landfill mining (ELFM) in the of this enormous raw material potential. and selective separation of recoverable materials are developed • Mechanical processing (crushing, classification, grinding) European context scaled from laboratory to pilot plant size. • Innovative separation technologies (electro-hydraulic • Fast acquisition of key figures, such as resource fragmentation, sorting processes) productivity or material flows Together new possibilities to optimise the circle of materials • Processes for the extraction of pollutants and resources Material characterisation • Raw material quantities, raw material demands, etc. from are identified, always with the aim of a waste-free reuse of (Mechano-chemical extraction, acid extraction, liquid/ macro to micro can be easily deduced resources. liquid extraction, use of ionic liquids) In order to develop efficient extraction technologies, a • Advertising media / public image • Biological recovery of metals from mineral and organic precise characterisation of materials with regard to material • Mapping of the historical urban development from a raw The methodical competences range from mechanical, physical, sludges (bioleaching) composition and structure, concentration, short-range order, materials’ point of view chemical to biological procedures and are enhanced and • Solid-gas technology for the selective separation of stoichiometry, morphology, etc. is essential. • Digitalisation of the raw materials of urban regions combined with respect to the corresponding final use. pollutants and resources Therefore, numerous up-to-date characterisation methods are Material systems in focus available. Next to qualitative and quantitative determination • Combustion ashes and dusts with highest resolution, they allow the measurement of • Metallurgical slags various chemical - and physical properties of materials. • Mineral systems In addition, the portfolio is completed by a large variety of • Composite materials process-related examinations such as material flow analysis, • Vitreous materials of different shape process cost analysis, life cycle assessment (LCA), environ- • Sludges form grinding, electroplating, drilling, effluent mental accounting, sustainability assessment and resource sludge, red mud and other industrial sludges efficiency issues.